Packing list for Philippines

From Peace Corps Wiki

These lists has been compiled by Volunteers serving in Philippines based on their experience. Use it as an informal guide in making your own list, bearing in mind that experience is individual. There is no perfect list!

This list has been compiled by Volunteers serving in the Philippines and is based on their experience. Use it as an informal guide in making your own list, bearing in mind that experience is individual. There is no perfect list! You obviously cannot bring everything on the list, so consider those items that make the most sense to you personally and professionally. You can always have things sent to you later. As you decide what to bring, keep in mind that you have an 80-pound weight limit on baggage. And remember, you can get almost everything you need in the Philippines.

Contents

Two or three blouses and cotton skirts (at least knee length) and two or three dresses (at least knee length) for work, meetings with officials, social events, and formal Peace Corps functions (bring enough for at least three days a week of formal practicums, especially in education; also, bring a light shawl/scarf/sweater to wear over any sleeveless tops)

Two or three pairs of lightweight pants and two or three pairs of walking shorts (which extend to mid-thigh) for wearing around the house, working outdoors, and travel

Several nice T-shirts, including plain white ones to be printed with Peace Corps designs

Two or three pairs of cotton slacks (khakis are ideal), five to eight short-sleeved cotton shirts with collars, two cotton dress shirts, and one necktie for work, meetings with officials, parties, and formal Peace Corps functions

Two or three pairs of lightweight pants and four or five pairs of walking shorts (which extend to mid-thigh) for wearing around the house, working outdoors, and travel

Five to eight casual but neat T-shirts

Eight to 10 pairs of cotton briefs or boxers

One or two undershirts

Cotton socks

Swim trunks

Bandannas or handkerchiefs for protection from dust, pollution, and heat

For women, one pair of comfortable, versatile flats or low-heeled shoes that can be worn with pants or dresses (education volunteers are required to wear dress shoes at least three days a week during training, and every day when at site - bring several pairs since women's sizes over 7 are difficult to find)

For men, comfortable, casual dress shoes

One pair of durable shoes for fieldwork

One pair of comfortable athletic shoes

One pair of sturdy sandals (e.g., Tevas) (Check the volunteer discount page on this wiki, as both Teva and Keen provide discounts to PCVs)

A computer (Peace Corps will tell you this is optional, but they will also give you most of your technical materials on a USB, so make sure to bring some variety of laptop/tablet/etc. which can read USB flash drives. Also, a lot of the technical work is a lot easier with a computer, such that the few in our batch who didn't bring one quickly decided to buy one here.)

Battery- or solar-powered calculator (if you need one for your work)

Music

Recreational equipment such as a Frisbee, baseball glove, or mask and snorkel

Two flat sheets (not fitted) and two pillowcases

Sewing kit (but needles and thread are available locally)

Three lightweight towels—two bath size and one for traveling

Your favorite technical books (there are also a lot of technical books in-country)

Small tape recorder/player for recording language lessons

Camera with silica gel and airtight container to protect film and equipment from the heat and humidity; most standard black-and-white, color, and slide films are available in larger cities, but the quality of processing varies markedly (you can buy mailers to send your film to the United States, Japan, or Australia for processing) (Or cities will have places that can print digital photos)

Durable, waterproof backpack for overnight trips, and/or a duffel bag for short trips

Duct tape (useful for fixing almost anything and hard to find locally)

Money belt

Sleeping bag, especially if you are assigned to the mountains up north

Waterproof flashlight

Gifts from another place (known as pasalubong) for host families, such as Uno and other American games, U.S. maps, coloring books, key chains, magnets, pens, chocolate bars, and hard candies (Filipinos love them!) (Be aware you'll need both gifts for two host families for both welcome and good-bye, though you'll also have opportunities to buy chocolate, etc. in-country.)